Wellcome Screenwriting Fellowship in partnership with BFI and Film4

We award this fellowship to a screenwriter whose work is bold, original and authentic.

Selected from over 100 names nominated by the film and television industries, Michaela Coel (Chewing Gum) has received the 2017 fellowship in recognition of her remarkable screenwriting talent and distinctive approach to exploring the human condition.

2014: Jonathan Glazer (Under the Skin, Sexy Beast). Jonathan explored a range of psychological, historical and ethical themes during his fellowship, which are now feeding into his next project.

2013: Clio Barnard (The Arbor, The Selfish Giant). Clio's latest film Dark River, which she developed during her fellowship after meeting with psychologists and psychiatrists working on traumatic memory, received its world premiere at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.

What we’re looking for

Still from Clio Barnard's Dark River. She says: "The Screenwriting Fellowship is a unique opportunity to switch between the minute details and rigours of research and to stand back to try and see the big picture."

We award the fellowship to a screenwriter with a distinctive voice. They should have a strong portfolio of previous work that's been produced for film and/or TV.

We expect our Screenwriting Fellows to:

be curious and open-minded

make time to explore, research and think

act as an ambassador for Wellcome in the film industry.

Many of the opportunities offered as part of the award take place in the UK. Our fellows don't have to be UK based, but they should be in the UK for much of their fellowship year.

What we offer

Wellcome wants to improve health for everyone by helping great ideas to thrive. We believe the best way to encourage creativity is to allow people time and space.

This year-long fellowship offers a chance to explore the unrivalled resources available through Wellcome. We work with each fellow to tailor their year to their interests.